Combination flush tank and bowl



May 2, 1933. H, F IWEAVER 1,907,193

COMBINATION FLUSH TANK AND BOWL -Filed July 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l M-y 2, 1933, H. F. WEAVER 19907193 COMBINATION FLUSH TANK AND BOWL Filed July 14, 1930 3 sheets-sheet l 2 7 Z i f s Y i N i "I u.: r w* l /z30` j; i /0 3 HlmmmMM/gng 7 May 2, 1933. H, F. WEAVER 1,907,193

COMBINATION FLUSH TANK AIJD BOWL Filed July 14, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet Z Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT FFECE HARRY FRANCIS WEAVER, 0F EYANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO MICHAEL D. HELFRICH, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA COMBINATION FLUSH TANK AND BOWL Application mea July 14., 1930. serial No. 467,878.

structions have been unsuccessful.

j Among the objects of the present invention are the following:

The provision of a gravity-flow tank and bowl of improved construction, the tank being directly seated on, and secured to, the shelf of the bowl in an improved, preferably adjustable, manner without resort to metal flush-connections, thereby entirely do* ing away with tubes, pipes, elbows, spuds and the like, and obviating the necessity of fastening the tank to the wall of the room and also insuring a secure support for the tank and a neat and compact construction. The seat for the ballvalve is located in the bottom of the tank and there' is a discharge port in said bottom which directly' communicates with a flush port located therebelow in the shelf of the bowl to enable the water flowing from the tank to pass directly into the shelf of the bowl for flushing purposes. The adjustable connection between the tank and the shelf of the bowl has the following advantage. When the distance between the bowl outlet and the wall is a little less than usually specified, the tolerance permits adjustment of the tank on the bowl to compensate for the variation. The adjustable connection comprises co-operating raised and depressed parts on the tankand shelf of the bowl, which permit a forward and backward adjustment. A gasket is located in the depressed part, and thereare bolt-and-slot connections of improved arrangement for securing the tank where adjusted;

Providing a tank having an improved integral overfiow pipe or conduit, thus eliminating defective connections and obviating rusting, clogging, etc.;

Providing a tank having a novel ballvalve-seat ground in the tank, through which the flushing water passes to the bowl; fur,- ther, providing an improved bottom in the region of the valve seat. This improvement causes the full contents of the tank to pass through the integral ground-valve-seat when flushing occurs, and insures a scouring or whirlpool action in the improved bottom, preventing sediment from accumulating in the bottom of the tank. The improved tank bottom minimizes the volume of water left in the tank after the valve has re-seated.y Ordinary tanks retain from one to two gallons of water around the flush valve seat. `With my improvements, at most there is only about one-half pint of water retained in the tank after the usual Hushing action and reseating of the valve and, due to the scouring action mentioned, this small quantity of water does not cause sediment to accumulate. If it is desired to completely drain the tank, it is only necessary to temporarily hold the usualouter tripping handle or lever, which keeps the Hush ball unseated until all of the water drains ofl", leaving the tank practical- To provide a valve seat so disposed in relation to the bottom of the tank that it is belov.T the tank bottom and not subject to the defects inhering in a raised valve seat;

To provide means entirely doing away with the usual re-ll tube which is commonly used to supply the seal in the bowl while the tank is re-filling. This object is accomplished by the provision of an improved reservoir chamber located in the shelf of the bowl, as hereinafter explained, and of such ay cubic water capacity that it will serve to instantaneously re-seal the bowl after Hushlng; f

To make provision for a novel flush-ball cage and to provide an improved combination of Hush-ball cage and tank bottom, whereby all fastenings for the flush-ball cage may be eliminated and said cage is maintained in position solely by its own weight and the weight of the water inthe tank. If preferred, the cage may be secured by. putty or cement. This improvement eliminates lifted, or lowered, as a unit, when necessary, without having` to detach or manipulate any fittings.

If putty or cement be used, it will be unnecessary to lift out the cage, as the Hush ball can be compressed and passed through a sideopening of the cage and a new ball substituted by a similar procedure. Y,

The iush tank and overiow may be of vitreous china, earthenware, enamelled metal ware, or any material which meets sanitary requirements. The bowl, except as improved by the present invention, may be of any approved construction and material. The tank rests on the shelf at the rear of the bowl and is fastened thereto by bolts. The improved adjustable connection heretofore referred to is, by preference, used but the connection may be non-adjustable and according to any desired manner of fastening, if desired. The overfiow communicates directly with the chamber in the shelf of the bowl.

Practical embodiments of the invention which are hereinafter described and are shown in the accompanying drawings, are by way of illustration, and not in limitation, of the'scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation, broken away and in section, showing one embodiment of the invention and the adjustable connection between the tank and bowl;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the tank;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section partly in full lines, showing the embodiment of Figs. 1 and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the shelf and a part of the bowl;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the ball or valve cage used in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, detail view of a part of the shelf, and a fastening bolt, illustrating the bolt slot and the locking countersink for the bolt-head;

Fi 7 is a front elevation, broken away and 1n section, of the tank alone, showing still another embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the ball or valve cage used in the embodiments of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a detail section, broken away, taken at right angles toFig. 7, showin the form of ball seat provided in the em odiment of Fig. 7, the ball and its operating means being removed.

The bowl 1 may be of any desired con! struction except that in its shelf 2, there is on improved reservoir chamber 3 of relatively large capacity, into the upper wall of which opens a ushing or discharge port 4 through which the water passes for ushing purposes.

The upper part or wall of the shelf has at the rear part thereof an overflow port 5 through which the overflow water from the tankmaypass. j

The cubic capacity of the reservoir chamber 3 must be equivalent to, or greater than, the amount of water held by the trap in the bowl to provide an instant re-seal.

Assuming, by way of example, that the water supply was turned off in the street, to enable repairs to be made, and the flush tank was filled to its usual height, the boyvl could be ushed and a perfect re-seal maintained due to the provision of the reservoir chamber 8, Whereas with the re-seal in the overflow of the old type of bowl, there could be no re-sealing of the bowl, due to the fact that the siphon action would break the seal, and the Water being shut 0E, no re-seal coul-d take place.

The iush tank 6 rests on, and is supported by, the shelf 2 but there is, preferably, a suitable gasket 7 interposed between the bottom of the tank and the shelf. Bolts or other fastenings connect the bottom of the tank to the shelf. Preferably, the tank is adjustably connected to the shelf 2 by the improved means shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, hereinafter described, but the other improvements are not limited to use in connection with said fastenings and the tank need not be adjustably mounted. No adjustable mounting is shown in the embodiments of Figs. 7, and 9 and ordinary bolts may be used 'in connection with said embodiments. Thus, all pipes, elbows, spuds, nuts, and the like, are eliminated and a more compact and neater, as well as stronger, construction is provided and the defects incident to fittings heretofore used, are eliminated.

The Hush tank 6 has an overflow conduit 8 which isintegral therewith, its mouth 9 being adapted to receive the overflow water and its lower end being alined with the port 5.' Preferably, the conduit 8 is located at the rear of the tank but need not be thus positioned. This overow conduit eliminates expensive and troublesome overow pipes and tubes such as heretofore used. j

If desired, the bottom of the tank may be depressed, in its central part, as vshown at 10, the main bottom of the tankbeing designaiied 11 but the depression 10 is not essentia Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the ball seat 12 is formed integrally in the bottom of the tank and is adapted to receive the ball 13 which is of the usual compressible type.

Surrounding the seat 12 and in the bottom of the depressed part 10, is a square seat 30 into which the lower edge or square bottom part 16 of the ball cage 14 its. The ball cage 14 has a dome-shaped top, open sides 15 lfor the free passage of the water and they easily usted,

introduction or removal of the ball 13 the latter be compressed, and an open bottom 17 to permit freedom or clearance for the ascent or descent of the ball 13. The ball cage appears in detail in Fig. 5. The .bottom part 16 may merely be loosely rece1ved 1n the square part 30 but, if preferred, putty or cement may be used to secure the part 16 in said seat 30. The square form of the cage 14 prevents the cage from turning.

The ball rod 21 to which the ball is connected, operates through a guide opening 22 in the top of the cage 14. The lift l1nk 23 has a loop 24 which co-operates With the rod v21. The operating lever is shown at 25 an-d is shifted by the usual outer handle 26.

To provide for adj ustability of the tank 6 forwardly and rearwardly of the bowl for the purpose of meeting all conditions of installation, as previously explained, the shelf 2 is provided on its upper face With a recess 31 and the lower face of the tank 6 has a projeetion 32 which is adapted to slide in the recess 3l. Thev gasket 7 is received in the recess 31 and has suitable openings to register with the ports 4 and 5. The ports 4 and 5 are of suitable size to afford proper conduct of the water regardless of the adjusted position of the tank 6.

Special bolts 33 connect the shelf 2 to the bottom of the tank, said bolts having their shanks passing loosely through elongated slots 34 in the shelf 2 and elongated slots 35 in the bottom of the tank.

The bolts 33 have elongated heads 36 which may pass through the slots 35 and then be turned and seated in the cross seats 37, Fig. 6. thereby locking the bolts against turning so that their nuts 38 may be drawn tight. In practice, chambers 39 will be formed in the bottom of the tank 6 to permit the bolts to be pushed upwardly through the slots 35, turned, and dropped into the lockings'eats 37. With the bolts thus arranged, their shanks can be entered in the slots 34, the tank adandthe nuts 38 applied and tightened.

The chambers 39 have no communication with the interior of the tank 6 and are wholly closed except at their bottoms where the bolts 33 pass through; consequently, neither the bolts nor the heads can come in Contact with the water in the tank.

In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 9, the ball seat l2 is In each instance, the ball seat is below the inside bottom of the tank.

The flush-ball or valve which is adapted to' rest on the seat 12 but is omitted from the seat 12.

The ball cage used in Figs. 7, and 9 appears in detail at 14, Fig. 8. This cagehas adomeshaped top, open sides 15 for free passage of the water and the introduction or removal of the ball, a ring-shaped bottom 16 and an appears at 13. in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 to better disclose provided integrally in the bottom of the tank.

open bottom 17', the latter affording freedom or clearance for the ascent or descent of the ball 13.

The rim lits snuglywvithin a correspondingly shaped opening 18 in the bottom of the tank in the form shown in Fig. 7.

In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 9, the rim 16 is seated in a concavity 19 in thel bottom of the tank and above the ball 12".

In the form shown in Fig. 9, there is a port 20 which leads from the seat 12" through the bottom of the tank to put the seat in direct communication With the port 4.

The ball rod is shown at 21, being connected to ball 13 and extending through a guide opening 22 in the top of the cage 14. The

lift link 23 has a loop 24 Which encircles the rod 21. The usual operating lever appears at 25 and is connected to the link 23 and to the spindle of the usual operating handle 26.

The bal-l cage 14 is not fastened in place but is merely seated in the concavity 19, Fig. 9, and is held in position by its weight and by the pressure of the Water in the tank. 1f desired, cement or putty may ne used to fasten the cage in place. By detaching the link 23 from the operating lever 25, the link 23, rod 21, ball 13, and cage 14 can be lifted as a unit and removed from the tank; similarly, they can be inserted as a unit Within the tank. This construction renders it very easy to assemble the parts or to remove them for inspection, cleaning, or adjustment or the addition of a new ball, when necessary. However, the ball may be y inserted or removed through the openwork'of the cage, merely by compressing it.

In ordinary flush tanks Where the valve seat is raised above the bottom of the tank, there always remains an accumulation of from one to two gallons of Water, after flushing, and this results in the accumulation of sediment, with troublesome effects. On the other hand, in the present invention, there beingno parts of a valve seat projecting upwardly from the bottom of the tank, the drainage, when iushing occurs, is practically complete, as only about one-half pint of Water remains; consequently, the accumulation of sediment is prevented. lf it is desired to completely drain the. tank, flush valve open long enough for the to pass out, in half pint above-noted will remain.

Due to the inclined depressed bottom lpart 10 in the tank, that is, the provision of a cavity surrounding the integral ball seat, a new result is obtained each time flushing occurs because a whirlpool effect takes place in this inclined depressed part 10 Which scours out the bottom of the tank and prevents accumulation of sediment.

By reason of elimination of all exposed metal flush connections, fittings, seat, etc. commonly used in connection with flush water all that is necessary is to hold the whichevent not even the onetanks` and subject to contact with the water, there are no flushing fittings to rust or corrode and interfere with the long life and satisfactory action of the tank.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a toilet bowl having a flush port, and an overfiow port independent of the said flush port, of a flush tank surmounting said bowl and having a flush port directly communicating with the flush port in the bowland also provided with an integral overflow communicating directly with said overflow port of said bowl.

2. The combination with a .gravity-How vitreous flush tank having a valve seat inte-y the tank.

3. The combination with a toilet bowl having a shelf, of a iush tank directly resting on and adjustably supported by said shelf, said tank having a flush-valve-seat in its bottom and integral with said bottom, a ball-flushvalve for said seat, and said :bottom and said shelf having flush-water ports which directly communicate with each other and constihaving raised and depressed parts to guide the tank tute a spudless water connection between the tanky and the shelf.

4. The combination with a toilet bowl having a shelf, of a flush tank directly resting on and adjustably supportedon said shelf, said tank having a iush-valve-seat in its bottom and integral with said bottom, a ball- Hush-valve for said seat, said tank and shelf co-operating relatively slidable;

when being adj usted 'and to prevent displacement of the bottom of said tank, said tank and the shelf having integral' flush-water ports which directly communicate with each other and constitute a spudless water connection between the tank and shelf, and fastenings for lockingl together the tank and shelf. v

two-piece combined flush tank and bowl wherein thetank has a'spudless valve seat port in its bottom and integral therewith, and the bowl has a port located directly below the valve seat port and directly communicating with said valve seat port, the seat and port constituting a continuous nonmetallic flushing connection between the tank and bowl, the tank being directly seated on, and fastened to, the shelf of the bowl.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY FRANCIS WEAVER.l

Seat port in its bottom and integral therewith,

andthe bowl has aspudless port located directly below the valve seat and directly communicating withlsaid spudless valve seat f port, the seat port and bowl port constituting a continuous spudless water connection between the tank and bowl, the tank .being directly seated on, and fastened to, the shelf of the bowl.

. 6. A two-piece combined flush ltank and bowl wherein the tank has a spudless valve ioo 

